Understanding OSHA Agricultural Standards

Objective: Review the six OSHA standards and other agency directives related to production agriculture.
Protecting the People who Feed America

Introduction

OSHA Agricultural
Specific Standards

Understanding Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) as it relates to agricultural
producers is a critical component of occupational
health nursing.

29 CFR 1928

Purpose & Scope

Applicability of Standards

Because of the diverse nature of work and myriad

occupational exposures for workers in production
agriculture, there remains a great deal of confusion
and misunderstanding related to OSHA standards
and exemptions. In many of our rural and
agriculture dependent communities, hospital and
clinic nurses find themselves on the front line of
caring for those work related injuries and illnesses.

1. Roll over protective structures for

agricultural tractors
2. Protective frames for wheel type
agricultural tractors
3. Guarding of farm field equipment, farmstead
equipment, and cotton gins
4. Protective enclosures for wheel type
agricultural tractors

Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin

Islands have occupational health and safety
programs. State programs can supersede the
federal OSHA guidelines (state standards must
be equal to or can be more stringent than federal
standards).

5. Field sanitation
6. Cadmium

Examples of Applicable Standards

General Duty Clause

Storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia

Temporary labor camps
Hazard communications
Hearing conservation & noise exposure
Eye & face protection
Respiratory protection

Requires employers to furnish each of his/her

employees a place of employment free from
recognized hazards that are causing or are likely
to cause death or serious physical harm.

29 CFR 1910 General Industry

OSH Act Section 5(a)(1)

The General Duty Clause is used to cite employers

for recognized hazards where there is no direct
standard that applies to the operation. If there
isnt a standard that applies directly to agricultural
operations, OSHA would utilize the General Duty
Clause, referencing the applicable standard.

OSHA Standards Should

be Followed Regardless of
Exemption Status

Although Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) cannot inspect or cite
farms with 10 or fewer employees, in a court of
law OSHA rules and regulations can be used to
identify and prosecute for unsafe conditions that
could lead to worker injury or death. If no other
standards apply, the OSHA General Duty clause
is a frequent reference point.

Recommending Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE) in the Clinical Setting

Guidelines for appropriate PPE are found in the

OSHA PPE standards, NIOSH guidelines, EPA
regulations and on the labels of most agricultural
products. Contact AgriSafe, a manufacturing safety
director in your region, or your extension agent for
additional help.

Other Important Federal Agencies

National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health

(NIOSH) an agency of the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention that performs
research and provides guidelines related to
exposure levels and personal protective equipment.
www.cdc.gov/niosh
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) writes
and enforces regulations that work to protect human
health in the environment. For agriculture, the
EPA enforces the Worker Protection Standard for
agricultural pesticides. www.epa.gov/agriculture

Useful OSHA Resources

Available at www.osha.gov
OSHA Training Education Centers
Quick Start Compliance Assistance
OSHA Small Business Handbook -2209-02R 2005

www.agrisafe.org
info@agrisafe.org
866.312.3002

OSHA Heat Stress Smartphone Application

NOTE: These standards are only a
few examples of OSHA standards
that an employer must consider. It is
the responsibility of the employer to
review, understand and implement the
standards that apply to their workplace.

This material was produced under a grant (SH24891SH3) from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organization Imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.